Slack-adjuster.



No. -896,972. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1908.

F. L. CLARK.

SLAGK ADJUSTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2. 1906.

1HE Nolems PETERS co.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED lsTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

FRANCIS L. CLARK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICANBRAKE COMPANY, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SLAGK-ADJUSTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 190s.

Application filed January 2, 1906. Serial No. 294,156.

automatically by the operation of the brake motor device.

In the embodlment of my mvention shown 1n the accompanymg drawing, themotor device illustrated is actuated by Iiuid pressure;

that is, it comprises a brake cylinder and piston of ordinary type; butother forms of motor may be employed; for example, an electricallyoperated device. .y

As shown in the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a brake cylinder,cylinder levers, and connecting rod, with my improvement appliedthereto; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the devices shown in Fig. 1; Fig.3 isavertical section, on a larger scale, in the plane of the line l -bof Figs. 1 and 2 and Fig. 4 is a vertical section in the plane of theline a-a of Fig. 1, as seen when looking towards the left.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the brake cylinder 1, piston rod 2, andcylinder lever 3, are arranged as in the ordinary Westinghouse fluidpressure brake system; but the cylinder lever 4, and connecting rod 5,are adjustably connected together by means adapted to be operated by themovement of cylinder lever 4, to effect a shortening of the connectingrod 5, when excessive movement of the piston rod 2 occurs on account ofan increase of slack in the brake rigging due to wear, stretching,bending, or any other cause. At one end, the connecting rod 5 isprovided with a screw thread 6, to which is fitted an elongated nut 7,carrying a circular ratchet, or ratchet wheel, S, which is preferablyformed integral therewith. The nut 7 is cylindrical on its outersurface, and is fitted to turn in a block 9, which is pivotallyconnected to the lever 4 by means of the journals 1U. The block 9 isfitted between the bent portion of the lever 4 and the piece 11, whichis removably secured to the lever by lshown in Fig. 3.

the bolts 12. Next to the ratchet lwheel 8, and bearing on the nut 7, isplaced a collar 13, provided with an arm 14, to which is pivoted thepawl 15, so placed that it bears on and engages the teeth of the ratchet8. A nut 19 on the end of the nut 7 holds the washer 20 and the collar13 in place. An arm, or link, 16, is pivotally connected at one end tothe lever 4, and at the other end to the arm 14, as The connection ofthe arm, or link, 16, with the lever 4 is by means of a stud 17 on thepiece 11, and its connection with the arm 14 is by means of the loosecollar 18, to which the bifurcated end of the link 16 is secured.

In the operation of the brakes, when the movement of the piston rod isexcessive, on account of excess of slack, the accompanying excessivemovement of the lever 4, relative to the pivots 10, and the consequentexcessive movement of the link 16, will turn the arm 14 on the nut 7,and cause the pawl 15 to move into engagement with another tooth of theratchet in advance of that on which it rested; and when the piston rod 2moves inward on its return stroke, in taking ofi' the brakes, the pawlwill act on the ratchet so as to turn the nut 7 on the screw-thread, andso advance the nut as to shorten the length of rod 5 between the twocylinder levers 3 and 4 and thereby take up the excess of slack.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a slack adjuster for brakes, the combination with a brake leverand connecting rod having a threaded portion, of a block pivotallymounted on said lever, a nut for the rod rotatably connected to theblock and carrying a ratchet wheel, a collar and pawl rotatably mountedon said nut, and means operated by the angular movement of the lever foractuating the pawl.

2. In a slack adjuster for brakes, the combination with a brake leverand connecting rod having a threaded portion, of a block ypivotallymounted on said lever, a nut for the rod rotatably connected to theblock and carrying a ratchet wheel, a collar and pawl rotatably mountedon said nut, and an arm 1 pivotally connected to the lever foroscilating the collar and pawl.

3. In a slack adjuster for brakes, the comd bination with a pair ofcylinder levers and a connecting hrod,- of a nut threadedonY said rodand rotatably mounted in a pivotal eonneeton to one of the levers, and apaWl and 10 neetion to one of the levers, a paWl and ratchet mechanismoperated by the angular ratchet for the nut, and an armvpvotallymovement of the lever. connected to the lever for operating said Intestimony whereof l have hereunto set pavvl. my hand.

4. In a slack adjuster for brakes, the 00m- FRANCIS L. CLARK. bnatonwith a pair of cylinder levers and a Witnesses: connecting rod, of a nutthreaded on said R. F. EMERY,

rod and rotatably mounted in a pivotal con- J. B. MACDONALD.

